Kerry has huge financial advantage

Friday

Oct 31, 2008 at 12:01 AMOct 31, 2008 at 5:46 PM

As of Oct. 15, U.S. Sen. John F Kerry had $5.3 million to spend on his campaign for election to a fifth six-year term. His Republican challenger, Jeff Beatty, had about a tenth of that, or about $58,000, and Liberatarian Robert Underwood had about $400 to spend.

John P. Kelly

Sen. John Kerry’s financial advantage going into the Tuesday election is even wider than his point spread in the polls.

As of Oct. 15, the fourth-term senator had $5.3 million on hand. His Republican challenger, Jeff Beatty, had just $58,448, campaign finance records show.

Libertarian Robert Underwood has not reported any federal campaign contributions but said in an e-mail that the campaign had about $400. State campaign finance records show that he raised no money in previous races for state representative and city council in Springfield.

Beatty’s latest report shows contributions totaling about $188,000 from Aug. 28 through the end of September.

Kerry spent more than $2 million in recent months, including writing a $1 million check to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee to help elect Democratic senators.

A Rasmussen Reports public-opinion survey this month found Kerry leading Beatty, 63 percent to 31 percent.

Reach John P. Kelly at jkelly@ledger.com

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